Riddle in Stone: The Riddle in Stone Series - Book One

By Robert Evert

"This unique plot is oozing creativity. You have to give it a read to properly understand why…you will not be disappointed, it is an excellent read!" – Only the Indies, 5 Stars

"In many ways, Riddle in Stone harkens back to the early days of modern fantasy where the hero is really an everyman confronted with an impossible task and, despite his own innocence, insecurities, and sense of inadequacy, accomplishes that which the great heroes of the time could not. Yet, there are enough differences to give it a fresh feel." —Maxine McLister

"Evert does an outstanding job. He isn’t afraid of the nastiness inherent in captivity. The process of turning Edmund from a sputtering coward into something resembling a hero is a long and ugly one." — Erin Eymard

Long after the last of the great heroes of old has died, the Undead King is stirring again, amassing a goblin horde ready to sweep out of the mountains and destroy all of humanity. The only thing preventing utter annihilation is Edmund—a stuttering librarian who knows a secret, a secret that every thief, assassin, and king would kill to have. Fleeing from relentless peril, Edmund wages a solitary battle against an ancient evil. But how can one man succeed when so many before him have failed?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Diversion Books
• Release date: Feb 26, 2013
• ISBN: 9781938120954

Reviews for Riddle in Stone

[barbeloangel · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

"The most darkest, compelling and overpowering journey that you could ever imagine possible, one that will seize you completely in your wildest dreams"Even before reading Roberts book, I knew just what I was letting myself in for with him.Such a terrific, amazing Author. I know he will go tremendously far and I would highly recommend his books to anyone that enjoys fantasy novels. Very similar to my favourite Novelist, Jack London, Robert has done this book in such a way that you can hear all the shouting and laughter, the wind howling, the trees rustling and the gravel underfoot.After looking at all these staggering reviews that Robert has received for Riddle in The Stone, I just couldn't wait to read his book and I was so engrossed in the story from the very first page. This certainly is an eye-catcher but also heart-throbbing at the same time and even tho this is not for the faint hearted because of how much detail goes into the book, but that is what makes it so spectacular to read and, believe you me, it will grip you straight away and so you will get dragged right under into another world. I found myself intoxicated with this wonderful and frightening book Robert, and I say frightening because I was so scared in places as it did feel very real, but I wouldn't of missed it for the world and you do pre-warn us just how dark it is before submerging into this great read.After being badly humiliated in public, Edmund, who is an overweight scholar/librarian and suffers terribly with a stammer, decides to leave the comfort of his hometown in search for an adventure. Along the way, he gets to meet the most incredible dog, Thorax, who becomes his best friend. But he also encounters the most horrendous of dangers when he gets captured by goblins who then torture him and the other prisoners. We then get to see how much Edmunds courage increases as time persist, also his magic abilities getting stronger and eventually how he undergoes quite a number of life changing experiences.Edmund is not our typical hero, but he is very likeable and he is always thinking of others more than himself. Because this book is so cleverly written, you also get to sense all the pain and suffering that Edmund and the others all endured. You will get locked into this book entirely.Such an poignant read and oh, so very intense. I have never read such a sad and emotional story like this before and it's definitely very different from what I normally would read. It will make you run behind the sofa to hide at times as there are quite a few terrifying scenes in this and whilst reading I was actually visualising watching it on television.Also just like I have quite often said in all of my reviews, I do so much love books like these, that you get thrown into the story so it makes you feel as though it's happening to you.This will stay with me for an extremely long time and I just can't wait to catch up with Edmund and Pond Scum once again soon. So well done Robert, told you that I'd enjoy this and haven't I just. Yes, it was hard to read at times because how intense this was and how dark, but that's because you are one fantastic Novelist.1Like in GR

[ellelainey · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Book – Riddle in Stone (Riddle in Stone #1)Author – Robert EvertStar rating - ★★★★★Would I read it again - YesPlot – imaginative, intriguing, excitingCharacters – unique, realistic, relatable, funnyMovie Potential - ★★★★★Ease of reading – very easy to read.** I WAS GIVEN THIS BOOK, BY THE AUTHOR, IN RETURN FOR AN HONEST REVIEW **After opening up this book with high expectations (I love Dark Fantasy books), I was pleasantly surprised. I had expected something different, something unusual and a little dark, and what I found was the equivalent of a fishing hook grabbing my poor little flipper and dragging me into the depth of the sea. I totally fell into the story from page one. I was, for want of a better word, hooked from the first line. The storyteller had me intrigued and I instantly fell in love with Edmund, our MC - Main Character.Edmund's internal dialogue was cute. Adorable. He's a complete charmer. And I'm sure he'd probably hate all the words I'm associating with his internal feelings, but I'm afraid there's no better way to say it. I really feel for him, especially when it comes to Molly, the love of his life who he can't even speak to without sparking off his most hated difficulty – his stutter.Edmund is the not-so-typical hero. In fact, he's downright original and refreshing. Because he's ordinary. He's a normal human being you'd see walking down the street any day of the week. Short, fat, balding, with a stutter and a love of books. Could you image a more anti-hero than that? Yet it works.I really have to say this one thing – by the end of Chapter 2, I'm little a little schoolgirl with a crush. I'm so excited about this 'adventuring' that I hated to turn off my Kindle. (But it was 1am and I was exhausted, so it really had to be done). So far, the story reminds me, in atmosphere only, of a cross between Lord of the Rings, Willow and Robin Hobb's Fareer Trilogy, with the lovely Fitz. Edmund really reminds me of Willow (from Willow duh!) and Samwise (LOTR). He's completely lovable and I also kind of liked Norb as well. He was an interesting character.I really like the way we get to see Edmund travelling to his quest. A lot of the time, unless there's a huge event or a disaster in store, we rarely ever see people travelling to their destination. I loved the inclusion of the dog, too, Thorax. I had a little giggle over that. If this were a shape shifter story (though it might be and I just don't know it yet) I would wager that the dog was Molly or a potential friend/love interest for Edmund in the future. At the moment, I'll just have to wait and see. Lol. What I really love about Edmund and Thorax' new friendship is the companionship that Edmund's never had and his grudging acceptance of it in the beginning, and then the total reliance and comfortable feeling between them later. And do you notice how, with Thorax, his stutter isn't so bad? ;) I think that means something important. I'll keep an eye out for that later.I absolutely agree with Edmund. On what? Well…what about the ugly princesses? They never get stories told about them. And “the Battle of Daisy Meadow”? I've never heard that one yet.I have to admit that I'm really taking a liking to Kravel and Mr Gurding. They're funny and intriguing and nice characters to really lighten the mood. I also like Pond Scum (No, I'm not making that up) and Crazy Bastard. They're really interesting people and I have a feeling they will both be important later (I'm only at 40% at the moment) I want to find out what happens to them, as well as Edmund's new friend Vorn. I really think I've solved the riddle, but I can't be sure until I find out what it really means. Only time will tell. If Edmund just stopped being so stubborn (though I do understand why he is stubborn about it) then he's realise how simple it could be for his brain.It's a real shame about the 'eye' incident. (I'm not giving away spoilers here.) But I have to say that the 'rat cage' is by far an excellent use of medieval torture. I've seen medieval torture used in books before, but few have the impact this one did on me. I was literally cringing, not wanting to read more. Very nicely done.Just after halfway through, I feel like I've been transported from Lord of the Rings to the 13th Warrior (awesome film with Antonia Banderas). Edmund is getting leaner and smarter and he's at that stage where he's learning that it's kill or be killed with the goblins. I also really like that the whole 'mines' situation isn't a flash in the pan attempt to create excitement and danger; it's a real crux of the story, driving the characters forward. I hate when characters get dropped into situations that could be amazing and the idea doesn't get followed through on. So this story is a gold mine for that alone. (excuse the pun.)I'm so glad that Pond Scum comes back into the story later. Though it's a shame Ed had to lose Vorn, Pond more than makes up for his loss. He's at least optimistic and really lightens the mood when Ed gets down. My only real question about this part of the story though (say 60-70% way through) is:WHO IS POND? I have a feeling, possibly wrong, that he's going to be really important. He doesn't want to talk much about who he was before the goblins captured him, but he gives enough hints that I'm interested. Even if he turns out to be a regular Joe, I'm intrigued by his story. I'm also very sad about Thorax, though I won't say why. Not what I thought, but a nice addition to the story.I loved Edith. She was so smart and a little sassy when we last saw her. I think she'll be a bigger part of Book 2. I hope. :)I'm really impressed by Edmund. After the whole 'eye' incident, he really found his courage, even if he did falter a few times. And although I loved fat, stuttering Ed in the beginning, I also like the emaciated, barely stuttering Ed too. He never lost that charm and charisma he had, even though all he'd suffered. It's just a shame about Molly. I won't give away spoilers, but I had to say that I saw this coming. It could never have ended well but I didn't care. I wasn't annoyed or disappointed with the ending, or that it leaves the story wide open for more. (I know there is a Book 2 anyway) I look forward to getting Book 2 and having some time to read it.Overall an excellent read. It has everything you could ever want in a good story: fantasy, torture, love, adversity, suffering, courage, mines, goblins, elves, riddles…I could go on. It's a long book, but it is well worth the read. Trust me, if you pick it up and start reading, you will find yourself sitting for hours, getting engrossed in the story, no matter what your plans are.

[alissa1-7 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I like this book. The main character is not the typical young hero who dreams of a marvelous quest, a nice princess and enchanting tales about him told in taverns and streets. He's a middle-aged, overweight stuttering librarian who dreams of all the above things. I liked the characters and plot a lot, feeling it started good and was a bit rushed in the end, but it's the author's first book and I'm looking forward to the sequel of this trilogy.

[kimberlynwm · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

[MARKED SPOILER ALERT NEAR END OF REVIEW] {Review originally posted on Goodreads.} I saw a description of this work, and added it to my “To Read” list. After a note from the author letting me know that the books were on sale, I decided to buy the first one and give it a shot. I really enjoy new takes on the hero’s journey trope. In this case, the unwilling/non-heroic hero piqued my curiosity. The fact that he—overweight, untrained in any type of self-defense, with few redeeming emotional qualities—set out on his journey honestly expecting a quick success was both ludicrous and a little heartrending. So many heroes in other novels are beat and banged up but never really damaged, so Edmund’s treatement at the hands of the goblins is notable for the genre. He has changed drastically both emotionally and physically, and I appreciate the realism.Another point I’d like to touch on is the world-building. I delight in falling into the mores, customs, and traditions created for fantasy worlds. I think that the author develops the life of prisoners in the goblin mines brilliantly, exploring and exploiting the emotional reactions of the slaves to the brutality and sadism (both of which are quite graphically depicted—YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED) of their imprisonment. The kingdom of the goblins is less defined, however, which could be chalked up to seeing it all through the eyes of Edmund, who admittedly wouldn’t have a complete picture. However, since so much hinges on the goblin POV of humans, and an inordinate amount of the book is devoted to Edmund’s stay in the mines, I found that gap unfortunate. Along those lines, the scenes in which Edmund appealed to the king and knights for help lacked the gritty realism and meaningfulness of the rest of the book. They were rather obvious in a)setting up how un-heroic Edmund’s world/kingdom/idealized heroes were, b) showing how naïve Edmund was even after surviving his ordeals, and c) contrasting the sheer insipidness of the supposed rulers and protectors of the realm to Edmund’s own growing courage and sense of duty. However, the heavy-handed portrayal went on way too long. I just felt those scenes were so extensive to bring up the page count.My last point regarding the world building is that it would have been useful, and more in proportion to the amount of time given to the goblin world if some time had been spent with how magic is used/viewed by the human populace—perhaps showing how magic users are treated would give more credence to some of the hints about Edmund’s parents. It could be that is done in the sequel, though, so that is a minor point.********!!!!!!!!Spoiler Alert Following paragraph!!!!!!!********My only other issue is that the ending seemed a bit facile. The amount of time given to Edmund’s imprisonment was long, but set up the almost inescapable aspect of the mines. Edmund was at the end of his rope. He was physically beat after having suffered incredible privation and torture. He had no hope of assistance from either the people of the village or the knights. He only had the help of a couple of untrained, uncultured bumpkins, but few weapons or tools. Thus, the ease with which he came up with the rescue plan, located, and escaped with Molly—with only the one setback—from the inescapable goblin mines was rather easy.********!!!!!!!!Spoiler Done!!!!!!!********I have to say I found Edmund’s darkly humorous inner dialogue amusing. However, a shining part of the book were the cruelly witty exchanges of the goblins, Kravel and Gurding. In spite of their sadism and viciousness, I was chuckling at some points and laughing out loud at others.

[ronald_l_weston · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Riddle in Stone is a pleasant surprise -- a fantasy novel that is not bloated, that is a refreshing take on the quest tradition, and has an interesting use of internal dialogue. Initially the hero is quite unheroic: a fat, middle-aged, stuttering scholar/librarian who is quite naïve. At times he is so unheroic that he becomes almost unlikeable. But as the story progresses Edmund evolves -- not quite in the formulaic manner, but in a near-believable fashion, even though he has a great deal to learn.Robert Evert alternates humor and grossness in this more-or-less realistic take on the fantasy epic. The novel, the first of a trilogy, has many fantasy tropes but they are used in a way far different from most traditional fantasy epics. Questing hero, comic companion, faithful dog, magic, goblins, trolls, damsels in distress, glittering citadels, and an ageless evil are part of Riddle in Stone but Evert has a deft hand. Much is not as it seems and Edmund slowly begins to perceive that you can't believe everything you read.While Edmund is the central character and Pond grows in prominence as the novel progresses, two of the most arresting figures are the goblins Kravel and Gurding. Every time they show up nastiness ensues but their dark humor banter is a real treat. They are mystery figures in the goblin realm, somewhat highly placed and seem to be what could be called special operators in a fantasy setting. Their background story would be an interesting read on its own.For some readers the novel may seem to lag a bit in the goblin mine section but the time spent there is necessary for physical change, character development, and slow revelation. When the time for action is at hand swords are drawn and much blood is spilled.While the novel should be praised for its leanness the final section seems rushed. If there is any place in the novel that should have a little more exposition it is definitely that sequence.All in all, Riddle in Stone is a fine read. There is much that is alluded to in the novel -- hints dropped here and there, casual references that cry for more detail. The history of this fantasy land is long and darker than has been represented in its libraries. The groundwork has been laid for the novel's sequels. I have already begun the second book and look forward to completing the trilogy.